Many cultures enjoy celebrations of Chinese New Year

February 1, 2014
YorkRegion.com
By Amanda Persico

It is time to saddle up for the year ahead.

Today marks the second day of the Chinese New Year, Year of the Horse.

And the horse is strong, energetic and loves to gallop.

Today, thousands came to celebrate Chinese New Year at Market Village in Markham — one of the largest Chinese New Year celebrations in the GTA — including residents and dignitaries from across the GTA.

Year of the Horse also means plenty of work ahead.

“The horse works hard. The horse is fast,” said Toronto MP and honourary event advisor Oliva Chow during the official ceremonies.

Maybe the horse will make an appearance in this year’s federal budget, which is expected to be announced Feb. 11, she said.

“Let’s hope there is lots of investment in public transit so we can travel fast and not be stuck in traffic,” Ms Chow said. “That is the horse’s wish.”

Premier Kathleen Wynne, along with Thornhill Liberal byelection candidate Sandra Yeung Racco and Markham-Unionville MPP Michael Chan were on hand to give out lucky red envelopes to festival patrons.

The CIBC Lion Dance event featured a traditional lion dance competition, as well as one of the world’s largest lion heads and one of the world’s longest dancing dragons, both donated to Markham.

“Don’t wake it up,” joked Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “Markham is the Chinese capital of Canada. And we are on the map thanks to the Chinese community.”

For the Giang family from Vaughan, watching the lion dance is an annual event.

“This is a way for the kids to get into the Chinese culture,” Loi Giang said. “They love to watch the lion dance.”

Today’s festivities were not limited to those of Chinese descent, so for many it was a learning experience as well as a celebration.

One couple travelled from Oakville to ring in the new year.

Joyce and Tomi Varvodic, along with their baby daughter, Mila, travelled across Toronto and through the snow to celebrate Chinese New Year at Market Village.

“There isn’t anything near us like this,” Ms Varvodic said. “We come every year.”

While an annual celebration, today’s celebration took on added meaning as an opportunity to showcase Chinese culture to their daughter.

“We want her to be exposed to both cultures even though she might not remember it,” said Ms Varvodic, who is Chinese. Her husband is Croatian. “We want her to grow up with diverse beliefs and not lose either heritage.”

The same rings true for East Gwillimbury couple Alison and Steve Cristante. This was the first Chinese New Year’s celebration for the couple who came to learn more about their adopted daughter’s heritage.

The Cristantes adopted now 3-1/2-year-old Alegra from China.

“We’re here to learn about tradition,” Ms Cristante said. “We learn as she learns. This is an incredible celebration, much more than our New Year on Jan. 1.”

Not only did the sea of red tradition leave a lasting impression on the Cristante family, but also did the richness of the Chinese community.

“Seeing this closeness of community is fantastic,” Mr. Cristante said. “For them, tradition stems from the home. We want that for our daughter.”

And that mix of cultures is what makes it a great Canadian event, said federal minister of state (multiculturalism) Tim Uppal, who also celebrated the Chinese New Year at Market Village.

“In Canada, we have the great opportunity to celebrate so many cultures,” he said. “That is why Chinese New Year has become a great Canadian celebration."

Metroland Media Group co-sponsored the event.